Boise State is forced to live in its own shadow

Once again, Boise State is in Las Vegas for a bowl game to end yet another successful season. Unlike previous years, though, no one is talking about where the Broncos should really be.

There is no BCS controversy for the No. 20 Broncos coming into today’s Las Vegas Bowl against Washington. No talk about Boise State being in the chase for a national title, either.

But if this season is what rebuilding is all about, Boise State coach Chris Petersen will gladly take it.

“Part of the problem with sports today, particularly college football, is that you do well and that sets the bar high,” Petersen said. “In our case it’s set so high that anything but a perfect season is looked upon differently.”

Petersen’s team wasn’t perfect this year, though the Broncos aren’t complaining about a 10-2 season and a national ranking. Not after losing six starters from last year to the NFL Draft and having to find a quarterback to replace Kellen Moore, who went 50-3 as a four-year starter for Boise State.

Still, the year could have been even better had the Broncos not lost a 21-19 game at home to San Diego State that might have kept them out of a bigger bowl game.

“Win one more game and we’re in the BCS,” Petersen said.

NEW ORLEANS BOWL: Even as quarterback Terrance Broadway celebrated Louisiana-Lafayette’s first bowl victory at college football’s highest level one year ago, there was a part of him left unfulfilled.

As a transfer, all Broad­way could do was watch, and he says that hurt. His first chance to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns in a postseason game comes today when Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4), of the Sun Belt Conference, makes its second consecutive appearance in the New Orleans Bowl, against East Carolina (8-4), of Conference USA.

Broadway has had an exceptional year, putting up 2,526 yards and 16 TDs passing to go with 661 yards and eight TDs rushing.

East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill says he wouldn’t be surprised by a shootout, with each team approaching their scoring averages of 30-plus points.